Adjustable arch support



Sept. 10, 1940. J. EARLY ADJUSTABLE ARCH SUPPORT Filed Feb. 11, 1959 Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT EICE 2,214,296 ADJUSTABLE ARCH SUPPORT Joseph Early, New York, N. Application February 11, 1939, Serial No. 255,968

7 Claims. (01:36-41) Generically this invention relates to arch sup- Fig. 6 is asection taken on the line 6-6 of ports, but more particularly it is directed to sup- Fig. 5. ports of the adjustable type. There have been many attempts made to pro- One of the principal objects of this invention vide an adjustable arch support, but such supis the provision of an adjustable arch support ports with which I am familiar have proven depreferably adapted to be mounted within an inficient in many ways,-some of which are: being ner sole and adjustable without removing the dedifiicult to effect adjustment and requiring extra vice therefrom, but which is adapted with equal tools, too complex and costly to manufacture, the facility to be positioned within a shoe without the adjustable mechanism not having sufficient range inner sole. of adjustment or too bulky to be satisfactory, not In) An important object of this invention is the presenting a substantially thin supporting device provision of an adjustable arch support having a with the arch supporting member movably conbase member and an arch supporting member nected at its ends and one edge to the base memmovably connected therewith, and means interher to permit satisfactory adjustment of said arch (I5 mediate the members for effecting relative adjustsupporting member with respect to the base m'em- 3.

ment of the arch supporting member with respect ber; and it was to overcome such disadvantages to said base member. by providing a substantially thin device having a Another important object of this invention is base member, an arch supporting member movthe provision of an adjutsable support having a ably connected thereto at its ends and one side,

base supporting element, and an arch supportan adjusting means mounted intermediate said Q0 ing element slidably interconnected at its ends members at one ed e SO as to effect Vertical ad and one edge to said base element and means injustment of the arch supporting member centermediate said elements for eifecting adjustment trally thereof, with longitudinal adjustment at of the arch supporting element with respect to the its ends, and lateral adjustment at its connected base element. edge with respect to said. base member, said ad- 525 A still further object of this invention is the justing means comprising a compound adjusting provision of an arch supporting device of this screw means,-hand grip means Carried by Said character comprising a base element, an arch screws for effecting their actuation to relatively supporting element, and an adjusting mechanism adjust the arch supporting member with respect mounted intermediate said elements, finger grip to the base member, and a normally inactive ad- 30 means carried by said mechanism for effecting justing plate operable to increase the normally its adjustment and independently operable means adjustable range of said adjusting mechanism, carried by said arch supporting element for inthat I designed the device forming the subject creasing the adjustable range of said mechanism. matter of this invention. I

With these and other objects in view, which will In the illustrated embodiment characterizing become apparent as the description proceeds, the this invention there is shown an adjustable arch invention resides in the construction, combinasupport device A and inner sole B, between the tion and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more layers of which said device may be positioned and fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the suitably secured.

accompanying drawing, in which like characters Device A comprises a base plate I which may of reference indicate like parts throughout the be stamped out of sheet metal or other suitable several figures, of which material, having one edge 2 curved inwardly in Fig 1 is a plan View Showing th d i a opposite directions to its ends 3 and it respectivemounted with respect to an inner sole. 3, ts ODD Site side being formed with an ex- Fig. 2 is a side View of the device illustrated in tension 5 offset with respect to the cross sectional 4 Fig. 1. median line B and, in the present instance, with Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line straight edges I and 8 extending from its base to 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arthe opposite ends 3 and 4 of plate I. Base plate I rows. is formed on opposite side edges of extension 5 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at and ends 3 aud t with lip portions 9 folded upon right angles to Fig. 3 and showing the adjusting the base plate as at 9 and spaced with respect plate in operative position. to the surface of said plate. A similarly shaped Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detailed view of the arch supporting plate member it is adapted to adjusting screw with the hand grip means in exbe mounted on the base member with its ends I l tended position. and I2 and extension l3 slidably extending un 55 der members 9; its curved edge spaced from edge 2 of said base plate I and tapering downwardly and outwardly therefrom in all directions to the opposite edges 1 and 8 and ends 3 and 4 of base plate I, as will be apparent.

Members and H1 spaced slightly from their edges as at 2 are formed with registering openings l5 and I6, respectively. The socket member I1 is formed with an extension l8 extending through said opening I6 and riveted as at H! to firmly secure said member IT to the under surface of the arch supporting member lo, the walls of said opening l6 being beveled as at 20 so that the surface of said rivet head will be flush with and form a continuation of the surface of member l0. and internally threaded as at 22 and 23, respectively, has one end reduced as at 22' adapted to extend in opening l5 flush with the outer surface of base plate I, the other end normally extending within and seating in socket Threadedly mounted on said member 2| is a hexagonal or suitably shaped nut 24, in the present instance formed with an axial flange l5 adapted to extend through said opening l5. Flange l5 if desired may be dispensed with. Threadedly mounted within screw 2| is a telescoping adjusting screw member 25 similar to 2|. In order that these screws may be relatively adjusted with respect to each other, screw 2| is formed with hinge lugs 26 in which the oppositely bent ends 21 of the semicircular finger gripmember 28 are mounted, and an additional semicircular member 29 is hingedly connected to member 28 by hinge band 30 so that member 29 may be folded on member 28 and member 28 folded on the top edge surface of member 2| when not in use. A gripping mechanism similar to that described in connection with screw 2|, except smaller, in-

eluding member 3|, lugs 32 and extensible member 33, is mounted on the end surface of adjusting screw 25. It will be noted that these finger grip mechanisms are adapted to foldably rest on the end surfaces of the screws so as not to interfere with the relative adjustable movements thereof.

' Pivotally mounted at one side of said socket member as at 34 is an auxiliary plate 35 normally resting in its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2, but movable into bridging relation with said socket member so as to form a seat for said screw elements, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby increasing the adjustable range of the compound screw unit C as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The ends 3 and 4 of base plate I are formed with extension clip tabs 36 adapted to attach the support A to the inner sole B to maintain the device suitably positioned with respect thereto, and similarly to the shoe if desired in the absence of the inner sole, or it may be positioned in the shoe without attaching, if desired.

In some instances it might be found desirable to form an opening through the shoe similar to opening 37 formed in the inner sole to register with opening I5 so that adjustment of said supporting device may be effected without removing the shoe from the foot of the wearer.

While the operation of the device would seem to be clear from the above description, it might be well to further state that initially the adjusting mechanism C is in complete telescoped or retracted position with plate 35 in its inoperative position (Fig. 2), and the initial adjustment is effected by operation of nut 24 to actuate screw The tubular screw member 2| externally,

2| in expanding direction in socket IT, or said screw 2| may be turned by the gripping members 28 and 29, and when the limit of adjustment of screw 2| is reached further adjustment is effected by actuation of screw 25 by the finger grip elements 3| and 33 which actuate said screw in ex- I tending direction within screw 2| to further adjust arch supporting plate ID with respect to base plate I and when the limit of adjustment of said screws is reached, they may be returned to their initial positions and adjusting plate 35 moved into bridging position with respect to socket ll whereby it is obvious that the range of adjustment of said arch supporting plate I 0 is increased by the actuation of said screws as in the first instance.

From the above it will be apparent that I have designed an adjustable arch supporting device having a maximum range of adjustment with the adjusting mechanism normally representing a minimum of thickness, and comprising a base anchor plate, and an arch supporting plate shaped to conform to the natural arch of a persons foot, said members being movably connected at their ends and outer edge, and adjusting means mounted intermediate the members for effecting vertical adjustment of the arch supporting member at its highest point, longitudinal adjustment of its ends and lateral adjustment of its connected edge with respect to said base plate to give a maximum range of adjustment without necessitating an undue thickness of the supporting device, said device being simple in construction, easily adjustable without the necessity of extra tools, manufacturable at a reasonable cost, and efficient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most eflicient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I de sire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. An adjustable arch support including a base member and an arch supporting member movably connected at their ends and one edge, and an adjusting means intermediate the free edges of said members to effect vertical adjustment of the free edge, longitudinal adjustment of the ends, and lateral adjustment of the connected edge of said arch supporting member with respect to the base member, said adjusting means including telescoping screw elements, and finger grip means carried by each screw for effecting its independent operation.

2. An adjustable arch support including a base member and an arch supporting member movably connected at their ends and one edge, an adjusting means intermediate said members for effecting relative adjustment of the arch supporting member with respect to the base member and a movable auxiliary plate means for increasing the adjustable range of said adjusting-means.

3. In combniation with an inner sole, an adjustable arch support including a base member, an arch supporting member movably connected to said base member, an adjusting means intermediate said members to effect relative adjustment of the arch support member with respect to the base member, said means including a screw means, means carried by said screw means for efiecting operation thereof, and means movable into the path of said screw means to increase its adjustable range with respect to said arch supporting member.

4. An adjustable arch support including a base member, an arch supporting member movably connected to said base member at its ends and one edge, adjusting means intermediate said members to effect relative vertical adjustment of its free edge and longitudnial and lateral sliding adjustment of the ends and side edges, respectively, said arch supporting member on said base member, said adjusting means including an adjusting screw extending through said base member, a similar screw operable within said first mentioned screw, and operating means for effecting relative adjustment of said screws with respect to said arch supporting member and each other carried by each of said screws.

5. An adjustable arch support including a basemember and an arch supporting member slidably connected at their ends and one edge, adjusting means intermediate the free edge of said members to effect relative adjustment of the arch supporting member with respect to the base member, screw engaging means carried by the arch supporting member, a compound adjusting screw mechanism seating on said base member coacting with said screw engaging member, means movable into bridging relation with respect to the screw engaging means to increase the adjustable range of the adjusting mechanism, and means for operating said mechanism.

6. An adjustable arch support including a base member and an arch supporting member movably connected at their ends and one edge, an adjusting means intermediate the free edges of said members to effect relative adjustment of the arch supporting member with respect to the base member, a screw engaging means connected to the arch supporting member, means movable into bridging relation with respect to said screw engaging means, a compound screw mechanism including an exteriorly mounted adjusting nut seating on said base member, and means for effecting the engagement in extending direction of said screw mechanism with said screw engaging means and said bridging means.

'7. An adjustable arch support including a base member and arch supporting member movably connected attheir ends and one edge, an adjusting means intermediate the free edges of said members to efiect relative adjustment of the arch supporting member with respect to the base member, said adjusting means including a screw engaging means connected to the arch supporting member, telescoping screws including an exteriorly mounted nut seatingon said base member, means carried by therespective screws for effecting their independent engagement with said screw engaging means, and means carried by said screw engaging means to increase the adjustable range of said adjusting mechanism.

JOSEPH EARLY. 

